07

The shirt is a superior piece of workmanship. It is sewn of the finest linen tabby, woven on either a vertical loom or an early form of treadle-ioom, both of which were in use during the late Viking Age.

We also know from other archaeological finds near Sonderso that Viborg had many talented artisans, so it is not unlikely that the doth was both woven and cut here. Linseeds were also found in the soil. It would therefore be tempting to imagine Viborg at that time surrounded by a wealth of blue fields in late summer. However, the seeds found here were not from spinning flax but from the type of flax used to produce either linseed oil or linseeds for breadbaking as we know it today. We have no proof that spinning flax was cultivated to any great extent in the surrounding area of Viborg at the time. Morę likely the fiax was imported, possibly from the Baltic countries.

The shirt consisted of ten pieces sewn together with eight different types of seams, forming an elegant garment with long, narrow sleeves, lined bodice and a skirt that was open at both sides to allow for movement. The neck opening is trimmed with a very narrow band of fabric which continues on both sides, forming ties for the asymmetrical panel pieces.